Thread: Activate whinge program - Where are all the no.7 planes?

What is an Australian Carter No 7 worth.

Compare the price of a new and less well made stanley. $130 isn't really so bad for a good secondhand 7 which hasn't seen too much work.
Jim

ps. or you could be patient

They are getting harder to find on ebay in Australia.
Of course there is the US Ebay but you have exchange rate difficulties and with a number 7 the higher cost of US postage. (US $61.45 quoted - AU$96.00)
Still, there is a general complaint in the US that Ebay prices are dropping because of the economic downturn.
If you can watch the exchange rate carefully and keep it in mind when you bid, you might collect a plane cheaper than $130 but you will have the problem of buying it sight unseen.
At least if you buy from a vendor in Australia you will have the security of knowing that the product is not junk dressed up.
Here are some US Number 7's:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Antique-Vinta...3286.m63.l1177

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/STANLEY-BAILE...3286.m63.l1177

If it was me I would either wait for a number seven to come up on Ebay-Oz or I would bite the bullet and buy one from an Australian vendor.
Here is an absolute cracker from Hans Brunner's site.
It is a little more than $130 but worth it in my book.
Regards from Tele Point
SG

ah yes that thing called patience....

SG,are Millers Fall planes any good?

I dont know much beyond Stanley in the old stuff.

So for a Carter no 7 i have no idea. Are Carter's any good?

cheers
tom

I have a carter No 7 that I might get rid of.

I bought it 30+ years ago in a small town where my first wifes parents lived.
We lived a long way from there.

The mother passed away and after the funeral I did not just want to leave a mound of dirt. Anyway there was no dressed timber in the town, only off saw so I bought this along with some other tools and made a wooden frame.

It has sat in the cupboard ever since. It probably has only had one sharpening.

I got lucky once picked up a number 7 stanley made in england for $60, it was in very good condition and needed little work to refurbish. I however sold it a while a go for a small profit. I do like the 7 as a general work horse plan. Just be patient.

If you can wait until Xmas. I might be able to help. I have 4 in total. Damien.

Originally Posted by tomnewby

ah yes that thing called patience....

SG,are Millers Fall planes any good?

I dont know much beyond Stanley in the old stuff.

So for a Carter no 7 i have no idea. Are Carter's any good?

cheers
tom

Is the Pope catholic?
Millers Falls are excellent planes. I have never owned a Carter bench plane so can't give a user's perspective on these, but their blades have a good reputation.
It seems that there are members of the forum who would like to help you get a number 7, and it looks like you will have a choice - so today is your lucky day.
This is another thing I like about this forum - folks are just so darn nice and helpful - besides it being a huge knowledge base on all things woody.
Good luck to you Tom and thanks to everyone who has offered to help out.
I'm off to work
SG

Ha! That Miller Falls plane went "on hold" this morning! They are obviously well liked.

DavidG, thanks for the offer but I had my sights set on a Stanley... I'm one of those oddballs that like sets of things..... and I have a 4 and 4 1/2 english stanley. (I hope i dont sound ungrateful.)

Damien, I can easily wait until xmas.... in particular i'm looking for an english stanley if you have one. And i'm not scared of doing a bit of refurbing. Quite enjoy it actually.

Thankyou for the offers, as it wasn't the reason I started the thread... i was really just wanting to get a feel for the level of supply in the market. But the offers are greatly appreciated.

As SG said, its what makes this forum so good.

Cheers
Tom

Originally Posted by tomnewby

DavidG, thanks for the offer but I had my sights set on a Stanley... I'm one of those oddballs that like sets of things..... and I have a 4 and 4 1/2 english stanley. (I hope i dont sound ungrateful.)

Cheers
Tom

Well a #4 and a #41/2 doth not a set make. Ditch 'em and start again on Carter or Pope or Turner. You can get a hard to find #7 plane as a starter, in this case a Carter and you can work down to the easy ones. Otherwise stop your whining and pay the $130 for a Stanley!

Originally Posted by DavidG

I have a carter No 7 that I might get rid of.

I bought it 30+ years ago in a small town where my first wifes parents lived.
We lived a long way from there.

The mother passed away and after the funeral I did not just want to leave a mound of dirt. Anyway there was no dressed timber in the town, only off saw so I bought this along with some other tools and made a wooden frame.

It has sat in the cupboard ever since. It probably has only had one sharpening.

Carters have a great reputation for the quality of the steel in their blades, so you might like to consider David's offer.
If you really have your heart set on a Stanley you might consider a number 6. Not quite as long, but for all intents and purposes will do most of what a number 7 will do.
The Australian Stanleys seem to have been modelled on the English ones so they get the heavier base.
Here is one that needs some cleaning but should turn into a good user.

http://www.hansbrunnertools.gil.com....6Australia.jpg

For $60 you probably won't do better for price anywhere.

Regards
SG

I'm half way through restoring a Carter No7 I inherited from my grandfather. I haven't tried it out yet but from what I have seen so far Carter hasn't got the refined casting that Stanley has. The frog is a great example of this. The sides are very rough and I had to file down the faces as they were very uneven.

But then like every plane, you need to do a bit of work to it to get it in good working order and I'm sure my Carter will suit my needs.

Originally Posted by prozac

Well a #4 and a #41/2 doth not a set make. Ditch 'em and start again on Carter or Pope or Turner. You can get a hard to find #7 plane as a starter, in this case a Carter and you can work down to the easy ones. Otherwise stop your whining and pay the $130 for a Stanley!

We haven't heard back from Tom. Now I am worried he may have mis-understood my post as it is not my want to use those figure thingies. So here goes Tom, it was meant in jest .